Etomethazene Explained

Etomethazene (5-methyldesnitroetonitazene, 5-methyl etodesnitazene, Eto) is a benzimidazole derivative with opioid effects which has been sold as a designer drug over the internet since 2022, first being definitively identified in Sweden in January 2023.^{[1] [2]} It is an analogue of etonitazene where the nitro (NO₂) group has been replaced by a methyl (CH₃) group. While formal studies into its pharmacology have yet to be carried out, it showed far less potency than etonitazene itself. Etomethazene has an analgesic potency around 20 times that of morphine with a relatively short duration of about 120 min.^{[3] [4] [5]}

See also

• Etoacetazene
• Etocyanazene
• Etodesnitazene
• Etonitazepyne
• Isotonitazene
• Metonitazene
• List of benzimidazole opioids

Notes and References

1. De Vrieze LM, Walton SE, Pottie E, Papsun D, Logan BK, Krotulski AJ, Stove CP, Vandeputte MM . In vitro structure-activity relationships and forensic case series of emerging 2-benzylbenzimidazole 'nitazene' opioids . Archives of Toxicology . June 2024 . 38877156 . 10.1007/s00204-024-03774-7 . free . 11324687 .
2. Web site: New psychoactive substances - the current situation in Europe . European Drug Report . European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) . 2024 .
3. Web site: Early signal alert: Emergence of online mentions of etomethazene . National Drug Early Warning System . University of Florida, New York University, and Florida Atlantic University . 91 . 1 July 2022 .
4. Web site: 5-methyl Etodesnitazene (citrate) . Caymanchem.com .
5. Web site: Klassificeringsdokument Narkotika. Etometazen (5-metyletodesnitazen) . Folkhälsomyndigheten (The Public Health Authority) . Swedish .